Strip stock uncoiler and straightening device

ABSTRACT

A machine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock having a strip stock uncoiler means and an adjustable strip stock peeler means positioned adjacent the uncoiler means for stripping the leading edge of a coil of strip stock away from the body of the coil when the strip stock uncoiler means is actuated. A strip stock threading means is positioned adjacent the uncoiler means for receiving the leading edge of the strip stock coil from the peeler means and imparting to the strip stock a partial removal of the set that has been placed in the strip stock due to its winding into a coil. The threading means feeds the strip stock upwardly through an upper arcuate threading chute which then feeds the strip stock downwardly into a straightening means. A lower arcuate threading chute feeds the strip stock from the straightening means down and under the strip stock uncoiler means and thence to a strip stock processing machine without developing a set in the straightened strip stock.

United States Patent 1 91 Huber et al.

[ STRIP STOCK UNCOILER AND STRAIGHTENING DEVICE E. Baringer, Southfield;Eilert F. Bruns, Birmingham; Michael R. Ulewicz, Warren, all of Mich.

mj xggr aea P. S.-Artco, lnc., Detroit,'Mich.'

....72/l6l X Cramer et al 72/l83 X 8/1966 Wiig 5/1971 PrimaryExaminer-Milton S. Mehr Attorney-Donnelly, Mentag & Harrington [5 7]ABSTRACT A machine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock having astrip stock uncoiler means and an adjustable strip stock peeler meanspositioned adjacent the uncoiler means for stripping the leading edge ofa coil of strip stock away from the body of the coil when the stripstock uncoiler means is actuated. A strip stock threading means ispositioned adjacent the uncoiler means for receiving the leading edge ofthe strip stock coil from the peeler means and imparting to the stripstock a partial removal of the set that has been placed in the stripstock due to its winding into a coil. The threading means feeds thestrip stock upwardly through an upper arcuate threading chute which thenfeeds the strip stock downwardly into a straightening means. A lowerarcuate threading chute feeds the strip stock from the straighteningmeans down and under the strip stock uncoiler means and thence to astrip stock processing machine without developing a set in thestraightened strip stock.

16 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEBUIQH 3,715,903

SHEET 030F 16 All INVENTORS W i TO RN YS PATENTEUFEBISWS SHEET 0; OF

INVEN TORS PATENTEDFEB13 ms 3,715,903

SHEET 05 [1F 16 v I, 7 ATTORNEYS PATENTEUFEB13 1973 3,715,903 SHEET [NM16 M 2 AT TD RN iYS PATENTEDFEB13 I975 SHEET 0 8 OF PATENTED FEB 13 I975SHEET 08 [1F PATENTEDFEB 13 ms SHEET 11 OF I N V E N TO R S. John 4Huber,

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BY 16/262618. ulewz'cz d El EATTORNEYS PATENTEDFEB 13 1975 3.715303SHEET 13 0F 16 INVENTOR s.

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SHEET 15 [1F 16 uuuuu JUUUUU INVENTO RS.

TO RN Us STRIP STOCK UNCOILER AND STRAIGHTENING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally tostrip stock handling apparatuses and, more particularly, to a machinefor uncoiling and straightening strip stock and feeding the strip stockto a strip stock processing machine, such as a stamping machine, apress, or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art Strip stock handling apparatuses foruncoiling, straightening and feeding strip stock to a strip stockprocessing machineare well known in the art. One example of such priorart apparatuses is disclosed in the patent to Alvin F. Groll, US. Pat.No. 3,343,393 which discloses a strip stock handling apparatus thatemploys a conventional straightening mechanism positioned closelyadjacent the coil from which the strip stock is drawn and oriented sothat the straightened strip stock issues therefrom vertically. The stripstock is carried from the straightener over a series of supportsandthrough a turn of 180 and then suspended on its own tensionv as a freeloop between the supports at the end of that turn and guide mechanismsfor introducing the strip stock into a strip stock processing machine. Adisadvantage of the aforementioned prior art strip stock uncoiling andstraightening apparatus is that with the straightener positionedadjacent to the coil from which the strip stock is drawn, a radiussufficient to avoid developing a set in the straightened strip stockmust be maintained as the straightened strip stock proceeds verticallyupward and thence in an arcuate path across the coil and then downwardand under the coil to a strip stock processing machine. A furtherdisadvantage of the aforementioned prior art strip stock handlingapparatus is that the peeler apparatus for peeling the leading edge ofthe coil away from the body of the coil is not adjustable relative tothe most advantageous position'for stripping the leading edge away fromthe coil. Another disadvantage of the aforementioned prior art stripstock handling apparatus is that its loop storage capability is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a strip stockhandling apparatus for uncoiling, straightening and feeding strip stockto a strip stock processing or utilizing machine.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide animproved strip stock uncoiling, straightening and feeding machine whichovercomes the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art strip stockuncoiling, straightening and feeding apparatuses.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a strip stockuncoiling and straightening machine which is adapted to uncoil stripstock from an uncoiler means and feed it upwardly, and thence over theuncoiler means, and thence downwardly through a strip stock straightenermeans, and thence under the uncoiler means to a strip stock processingmachine without having to be concerned about the radius of the stripstock as it passes upwardly from the uncoiler means and over and aroundto the straightener means.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a stripstock uncoiling and straightening provide a machine for uncoiling andstraightening strip stock which is provided with a strip stock uncoilermeans and an adjustable strip stock peeler means positioned adjacent theuncoiler means for stripping the leading edge of a coil of strip stockaway from the body of the coil when the strip stock uncoiler means isactuated. A strip stock threading means is positioned adjacent theuncoiler means for receiving the leading edge of a strip stock coil fromthe peeler means and imparting to the strip stock a partial removal ofthe set that has been placed in the strip stock due to its winding intoa coil. The threading means feeds the strip stock upwardly through anarcuate threading'chute which thence feeds the strip stock downwardlyinto a straightening means. A lower arcuate threading chute feeds thestrip stock from the straightening means down and under the strip stockuncoiler means and thence to the strip stock processing machine withoutdeveloping a set in the straightened strip stock.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a machine foruncoiling and straightening strip stock which includes a power operatedadjustable strip stock peeler means positioned adjacent the front of anuncoiler means for stripping the leading edge of the coil of strip stockaway from the body of the coil when the strip stock uncoiler means isactuated, and a power driven strip stock threading means positionedadjacent the strip'stock uncoiler means for receiving the leading edgeof the strip stock coil from the strip stock peeler means and impartingto the strip stock a partial removal of the set that has been placed inthe strip stock due to its winding into a coil.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a machinefor uncoiling and straightening strip stock which includes an uncoilermeans, and a strip stock peeler means and a strip stock threading meanspositioned adjacent the strip stock uncoiler means for receiving theleading edge of the strip stock coil from said strip stock peeler means,and wherein the peeler means and the threadingmeans are both operativelymounted on an adjustable support frame for adjusting the peeler meansand the threading means relative to the uncoiler means. The strip stockthreading means comprises a power driven first roll and a second idler'roll adjustably mounted on an eccentric pivot means for moving saidsecond roll toward and away from said first roll.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide amachine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock which includes anuncoiler means, a strip stock peeler means and a strip stock threadingmeans for feeding uncoiled strip stock upwardly through an upper arcuatechute that guides the strip stock upwardly and over the uncoiler meansand thence downwardly into a strip stock straightener means from whencethe straightened strip stock is fed downwardly over a lower arcuatethreading chute for feeding the straightened strip stock to a stripstock processing machine, and wherein a portion of said lower threadingchute is adapted to be moved to an open inoperative position to permit acoil loading car to pass therethrough for loading a coil onto saiduncoiler means. In one embodiment ment the portion of the lowerthreading chute that opens-is a pair of power operated swingably mountedgates. In one embodiment the lower arcuate threading chute is disposedin a pit below the uncoiler means to provide an optimum loop storagecapability for the machine. A combination hold-down roll and followermeans is positioned adjacent the uncoiler means for operativeengagementwith a coil of strip stock as it is uncoiled.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, andthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS -'FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofa first embodiment of a strip stock uncoiler and straightening machinemade in accordance with the principles of the present'invention.

FIG. 2 is a right hand elevational view of the structure illustrated .inFIG. 1, taken along the line 22 thereof, and looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

FIG. 3.is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing some of the parts removedand some of the parts moved to another position.

FIG; 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, elevational section view of thestructure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along theline 44 thereof, andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing some parts in section,and with some parts removed.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged, elevational view of the combinationcoil peeling and' threading means illustrated in FIG. 2. 7

FIG. 7 is a broken, fragmentary, partial section view of the structureillustrated in FIG. 6, taken substantially along the line 7-7 thereof,and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of the stripstock straightener illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 10 is atop plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 9, takenalong the line 10-10 thereof, and looking in the direction of thearrows.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, enlarged, side elevational 'view of the stripstock uncoiling means and combinationcoil peeling and threading meansillustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, schematic, side elevational view of the secondembodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, and showing a portion of the structurein an enlarged condition and with parts removed.

FIGS. 13 and 13a illustrate the double cone or double mandrel type ofarbor employed in the strip stock uncoiler means employed in the secondembodiment of FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, enlarged, side elevational view of the stripstock straightener employed in the second embodiment of FIG. 9.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of the swingingstrip stock guide gate structure illustrated in FIG. 10, taken along theline I5-15 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view of the structureillustrated in FIG. is, taken along the line 1616 thereof, and lookingin the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 generally designatesa supporting surface, as a concrete floor, on which is operativelymounted a first illustrative embodiment of a machine for uncoiling,straightening, and feeding strip stock to a strip stock processingmachine. In FIG. 1, the numeral 11 generally designates a conventionalstorage rack for storing a plurality of coils 12 of strip stock. Thenumeral 13 generally designates a support ing structure for operativelysupporting a strip stock uncoiler means generally indicated by thenumeral 15 and an upper arcuate threading chute which is generallyindicated by the numeral 16.

The numeral 14 generally designates a coil loading car which is adaptedto move a strip stock coil 12 from the storage rack 11 to a position forloading the coil 12 onto a conventional single end arbor generallyindicated by the numeral 19. The numeral 20 generally designates acombination strip stock peeler means and threading means for feedingstrip stock uncoiled from a coil 12 upwardly and through the upperarcuate threading chute l6 and into a conventional strip stockstraightener, generally indicated by the numeral 17, which is disposedto the rear side of the uncoiler means 15. The straightened strip stockis then fed downwardly into a lower arcuate threading chute, generallyindicated by the numeral 18, and thence to a strip stock processingmachine. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower arcuate threading chute 18extends downwardly and under the uncoiler means 15. As shown in FIG. 3,the numeral 21 generally designates a combination strip stock coilhold-down roll and follower means positioned adjacent the strip stockuncoiler means 15 for operative engagement with a coil 12 as it isuncoiled.

In FIG. 3 the numeral 12 designates the largest diameter coil which canbe handled on the uncoiler means 15, and the numeral 12a indicates thesmallest diameter coil. The numeral 12b shows the smallest diameter coil12a moved into an operative position on the arbor 19. In FIG. I thenumeral 14a shows the position of the loading car 14 when it is in aposition to remove a coil 12 from the outer end of the storage rack I I.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the coil loading car 14 is rollably mounted on apair or railroad tracks 22 which extend under the storage rack 11 andthe uncoiler means 15 (FIG. 1). The coil loading car 14 is rollablymounted on the tracks 22 by a pair of front wheels 24 and a pair of rearwheels 26 which are operatively mounted on a front axle 23 and a rearaxle 25, respectively.

The coil loading car 14 is driven along the tracks 22 by the followingdescribed drive means. As shown in FIG. 5 a pair of driven sprockets 27are fixedly mounted by any suitable means on the rear shaft 25.

The sprockets 27 are driven by a pair of drive chains 30 which aremounted on a pair of drive sprockets 28. The drive sprockets 28 arefixedly mounted on the output shafts 29 of a gear reducer 31 which isoperatively driven by a suitable electric motor 32, as for example afive-horsepower motor.

The numeral 14 in FIG. 1 designates the loading car in its normalstorage position during the operation of the uncoilingand straighteningmachine of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the coil loading car 14 is provided with asuitable hydraulic lift means 33 which comprises a suitable hydrauliccylinder and means for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to thecylinder. A suitable coil supporting cradle or bracket 34 is adjustablymounted on the cylinder rod of the hydraulic lift means 33. It will beunderstood that the hydraulic lift means 33 is utilized for centeringcoils 12 of various diameters on the arbor 19.

The numeral'35 in FIGS. 2 and 3 designates an inverted U shaped openingin the 'machines supporting structure into which the coil loading car 14and a coil 12 may pass for loading the coil onto the uncoiler means 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the single end arbor 19 is expanded andretracted to satisfy varying coil inside diameters by a suitable drivensprocket and the drive chain 36 which is driven by a suitable electricmotor 37. The motor 37 also drives a chain 38 which drives a sprocket 39that is suitably geared to the arbor shaft to rotate the arbor forthreading strip stock across the peeler point 71. It will be understoodthat the single end arbor 19 maybe any suitably conventional arbor ofthis type.

As viewed in FIG. 2, the coil 12 is rotated in a clockwise direction soas to feed the strip stock 40 upwardly and to the left of the coil 12.

The hold-down means 21 includes a hold-down roll 41 which is adapted toabut the coil 12 adjacent the point on the coil where the strip stockleaves the coil. The hold-down roll 41 is rotatably mounted in asuitable manner on one end of a pair of carrier arms 42. The other endsof the carrier arms 42 are fixed on the front ends of a second pair ofcarrier arms 43 which have their rear ends fixed to a pair of carrierpivot arms 44. The pivot arms 44 are pivotally mounted on suitableshafts 45 which are secured to suitable brackets on the machine supportstructure. The aforedescribed carrier arms 42, 43 and 44 form ahold-down roll carrier frame which is adapted to be swung about thepivot shafts 45 to move the hold-down roll 41 into operating engagementagainst the coil 12 by a pair of suitable fluid cylinders 46. The fluidcylinders 46 have their head ends pivoted on pivot shafts 47 which aresupported by brackets 48 that are carried on the machine supportingstructure. The cylinder rods 49 have their outer ends pivotally securedto the hold-down roll carrier frame by pivot shafts 50. An electricmotor is on the hold-down roll frame and drives chain 52 which isthreaded around a suitable sprocket attached to the hold-down roll 41for driving the roll 41.

The fluid cylinders 46 are controlled so as to constantly bias thehold-down roll 41 against the coil 12 and provide a constant guidingaction as the coil 12 diminishes in size.

As shown in FIG. 2, the combination stock peeler means and threadingmeans 20 includes a supporting frame generally indicated by the numeral53. As shown in FIG. 7, the supporting frame 53 includes a pair ofspaced-apart elongated plates which have at their upper ends a pivotshaft 54 which are each suitably journaled in a pivot support member, asillustrated in FIG. 2. The support frame 53 is pivoted about the axis ofthe shafts 54 by a pair of fluid cylinders 57.

The outer ends of the cylinder rods 58 of the cylinders 57 are pivotallymounted by a pair of pivot pins 55 to the support frame 53, asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7. The head ends of the cylinders 57 arepivotally mounted by a pair of shafts 58 on suitable brackets as 59which are carried on the upper arcuate threading chute 13, as shown inFIG. 2.

The upper arcuate threading chute 13 includes an arcuate, channel-shapedchute 60 which is supported on the top of the uncoiler means supportingstructure by a plurality of radially disposed support posts 61 through65. The channel-shaped chute 60 operably supports a plurality ofarcuately shaped-apart strip stock support rolls 66 for supporting andcarrying the strip stock 40 as it passes through the threading chute 13.The channel-shaped chute is enclosed around its outer periphery by asuitable cover 68. As shown in FIG. 1, a strip stock guide means 69 ismounted at the discharge end of the threading chute 60. As shown in FIG.2, a fixedly mounted entrance guide member 70 is disposed so as to guidethe strip stock 40 into the channelshaped chute 60.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the stock peeler means includes a peelerpoint 71. As shown in FIG. 7, the peeler point 71 is supported on a pairof spaced apart carrier arms 72 which are pivotally mounted at theirupper ends on a pair of shafts 73. The shafts 73 are suitably journaledon the side members of the support frame 53. As illustrated in FIG. 6,each of the peeler point carrier arms 72 is operatively connected to afluid cylinder 74 for moving the peeler point 71 toward and away from'acoil 12 so as to engage the leading edge of a new coil 12 and guide itinto the threading means. Each of the rod ends of the cylinders 74 isattached by means of a suitable pivot shaft as 76 to its respectivecarrier arm 72. The head ends of the cylinders 74 are pivotally mountedby suitable pivot shafts as on the support frame 53.

The strip stock threading means includes a power driven roll 77 which isrotatably mounted by suitable bearings 78 on the side arms of thesupport frame 53. The roll 77 is provided with an end shaft 79 on whichis fixed a driven sprocket 80. As shown in FIG. 3, the sprocket 80 isdriven by a suitable drive chain 81 that is in turn driven by a sprocketmember operatively mounted on a suitable electric drive motor 82 that iscarried on the machine support structure. The strip stock threadingmeans further includes the idler roll 83 (FIG. 7) which is rotatablymounted by a pair of support bearings 84 that are each mounted on oneend of a pair of eccentric arms 85. The eccentric arms 85 are pivotallymounted on a pair of eccentric shafts 86 which are carried in aneccentric position on the inner ends of the shafts 73. The cylinder rodends of a pair of fluid adjustment cylinders 87 are pivotally connectedby a pair of pivot shafts 88 to the other ends of the two

1. In a machine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock, thecombination comprising: a. a strip stock uncoiler means mounted on asupporting structure for rotatably mounting a coil of strip stock on ahorizontal axis; b. an adjustable strip stock peeler means positionedadjacent the front of said strip stock uncoiler means for stripping theleading edge of the coil of strip stock away from the body of the coilwhen the strip stock uncoiler means is actuated; c. a strip stockthreading means positioned adjacent the strip stock uncoiler means forreceiving the leading edge of the strip stock coil from said strip stockpeeler means and imparting to the strip stock a partial removal of theset that has been placed in the strip stock due to its winding into acoil, and thence feeding the coil upwardly; d. an upper arcuatethreading chute positioned above said strip stock uncoiler means forreceiving the uncoiled strip stock as it is fed upwardly from said stripstock threading means and for supporting and guiding the uncoiled stripstock upwardly and over the strip stock uncoiler means and thencedownwardly behind the strip stock uncoiler means; e. a strip stockstraightener means positioned to receive the strip stock from saidthreading chute; and, f. a lower arcuate threading chute extending fromsaid strip stock straightener means and beneath said strip stockuncoiler means for supporting and feeding the straightened strip stockto a strip stock processing station and being of a radius of curvaturesufficient to prevent the developing of a set in the straightened stripstock.
 1. In a machine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock, thecombination comprising: a. a strip stock uncoiler means mounted on asupporting structure for rotatably mounting a coil of strip stock on ahorizontal axis; b. an adjustable strip stock peeler means positionedadjacent the front of said strip stock uncoiler means for stripping theleading edge of the coil of strip stock away from the body of the coilwhen the strip stock uncoiler means is actuated; c. a strip stockthreading means positioned adjacent the strip stock uncoiler means forreceiving the leading edge of the strip stock coil from said strip stockpeeler means and imparting to the strip stock a partial removal of theset that has been placed in the strip stock due to its winding into acoil, and thence feeding the coil upwardly; d. an upper arcuatethreading chute positioned above said strip stock uncoiler means forreceiving the uncoiled strip stock as it is fed upwardly from said stripstock threading means and for supporting and guiding the uncoiled stripstock upwardly and over the strip stock uncoiler means and thencedownwardly behind the strip stock uncoiler means; e. a strip stockstraightener means positioned to receive the strip stock from saidthreading chute; and, f. a lower arcuate threading chute extending fromsaid strip stock straightener means and beneath said strip stockuncoiler means for supporting and feeding the straightened strip stockto a strip stock processing station and being of a radius of curvaturesufficient to prevent the developing of a set in the straightened stripstock.
 2. A machine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock asdefined in claim 1, including: a. a strip stock coil hold-down roll andfollower means positioned adjacent said strip stock uncoiler means foroperative engagement with a coil of strip stock as it is uncoiled.
 3. Amachine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock as defined in claim2, wherein: a. said strip stock peeler means and strip stock threadingmeans are carried on a common swingably mounted support frame.
 4. Amachine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock as defined in claim3, wherein: a. said strip stock threading means comprises a power drivenfirst roll operatively mounted on said support frame and an idler secondroll adjustably mounted on an eccEntric pivot means carried on saidsupport frame for moving said second roll toward and away from saidfirst roll.
 5. A machine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock asdefined in claim 3, wherein: a. said strip stock peeler means comprisesa peeler point swingably mounted on said support frame; and, b. meansfor moving said peeler point toward and away from a strip stock coil onsaid uncoiler means for stripping engagement with the leading edge ofthe coil.
 6. A machine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock asdefined in claim 2, wherein said strip stock coil hold-down and followmeans includes: a. a power driven roll swingably mounted adjacent saiduncoiler means; and, b. power means for normally biasing said hold-downroll into operative engagement with a strip stock coil on said uncoilermeans.
 7. A machine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock asdefined in claim 6, wherein: a. said power means comprises a hydrauliccylinder.
 8. A machine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock asdefined in claim 2, wherein: a. said supporting structure is positionedon a supporting surface; and, b. said lower arcuate threading chuteextends between said strip stock uncoiler means and said supportingsurface.
 9. A machine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock asdefined in claim 8, including: a. a power driven coil loading carrollably mounted to move a strip stock coil from a storage positionadjacent the strip stock uncoiler means into a position for mounting onsaid strip stock uncoiler means.
 10. A machine for uncoiling andstraightening strip stock as defined in claim 9, wherein: a. said lowerarcuate threading chute includes a movable portion disposed in a normaloperative position beneath said uncoiler means and movable into aninoperative position when said coil loading car is moved to a positionbeneath said uncoiler means.
 11. A machine for uncoiling andstraightening strip stock as defined in claim 10, wherein: a. said lowerthreading chute movable portion is operatively carried by said coilloading car for movement between said operative and inoperativepositions.
 12. A machine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock asdefined in claim 9, wherein: a. said strip stock uncoiler means includesa single end arbor for retaining a coil in operative position on saiduncoiler means; and, b. said coil loading car is adapted to move a stripstock coil from a storage position to a position for loading the coil onsaid single end arbor.
 13. A machine for uncoiling and straighteningstrip stock as defined in claim 2, wherein: a. said supporting structureis positioned on a supporting surface; b. a pit is formed in saidsupporting surface beneath said uncoiler means, and said pit extendsbeyond the front end of said supporting structure; and, c. said lowerthreading chute comprises a first portion extending downward from saidstraightening means and a second portion disposed in said pit.
 14. Amachine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock as defined in claim13, including: a. a power driven coil loading car rollably mounted tomove a strip stock coil from a storage position adjacent the strip stockuncoiler means into a position for mounting on said strip stock uncoilermeans.
 15. A machine for uncoiling and straightening strip stock asdefined in claim 14, wherein: a. said lower threading chute firstportion comprises a pair of swingably mounted gate members disposed in anormal closed operative position; and, b. a power means is operativelyconnected to each of said swingable gate members to move the same intoan inoperative open position when said coil loading car is moved to aloading position at said uncoiler means.